Cholera cases are rising in unexpected regions. Can science keep up with this evolving threat?

In this episode of ‘When Science Finds a Way’, Alisha Wainwright sits down with Professor Iruka Okeke to talk about the factors driving cholera's spread and the innovative mapping techniques being used in Kenya to identify hotspots.

Download episode show notes and transcript: www.wellcome.org/podcast

01:22 Guest introduction: Professor Iruka Okeke

01:50 What is cholera and how do you treat it?

04:34 The role of human movement, conflict and climate change in cholera outbreaks

07:21 Why do people still die from cholera if it's treatable?

09:10 In what parts of the world is cholera endemic?

09:33 Meshak Ong'ori reflects on cholera outbreaks in informal settlements in Kenya

13:17 How can science help us better understand why outbreaks occur?

14:37 Professor Samuel Kariuki on using demographic surveillance sites to map cholera hotspots

18:47 What do we know about cholera bacterium?

20:44 Professor Samuel Kariuki shares recommended interventions to minimise outbreaks in informal settlements

22:53 How small changes can have huge impacts for human health

23:59 Meshak Ong'ori reflects on his experience using interventions from the KEMRI study

25:33 The importance of African-led R&D, vaccine development, and community health promoters in controlling outbreaks

33:54 Key priorities for combatting cholera in endemic regions

35:43 Closing remarks and acknowledgements

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As a researcher, Fortunate Machingura is motivated by curiosity – the opportunity to discover something she previously did not know. Fortunate tells us why working in climate and health research matters to her.

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🤰 The exclusion of pregnant participants from vaccine trials has been increasingly questioned. 

 

This episode of ‘When Science Finds a Way’ explores how their inclusion could improve health outcomes for both parent and baby. 

 

🎙️ Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. 

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Over the years, the reluctance to include pregnant participants in vaccine trials has been increasingly challenged. That’s because their inclusion can make vital medications available during pregnancy and provide data that could improve survival rates for both parent and baby.

Alisha is joined by Dr Flor M Munoz, a global expert in maternal immunisation to discuss a new vaccine trial, safety considerations and the future.

Download episode show notes and transcript: www.wellcome.org/podcast

01:37 Guest Introduction: Dr Flor Muñoz

02:32 Why are maternal vaccines so important?

05:46 The exclusion of pregnant participants in vaccine trials throughout history

06:20 How the thalidomide tragedy changed vaccine trial policy

07:58 What has changed? Calls for inclusion over the last few decades

10:30 Designing vaccine trials safe for pregnancy

17:16 Dr Clare Cutland on the RSV vaccine trial in South Africa

21:39 Monitoring and responding to 'safety signals' in vaccine trials

25:25 Thandiwe Nkosi reflects on being a trial participant in the study

29:42 Keeping participants safe, informed, and engaged during and after the trial

32:32 Barriers to running vaccine trials in the U.S.

33:51 Dr Clare Cutland on the challenges of conducting clinical trials in low-middle income countries

36:25 How inclusion in research improves health equity

38:24 What’s needed globally to expand inclusive research?

41:29 Closing remarks and acknowledgements

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Shobna Sawry, Senior Programme Manager for Research at WITS RHI South Africa (@witsrhi7038), spent most of her career working in paediatrics or in maternal care. Now, she’s a climate and health researcher. Find out why she was drawn to research.

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The Discovery Decade programme conducted extensive audience research to understand how people felt about research and development. The team behind it found that people are likely to welcome R&D efforts in their communities. Learn more from Ben Bleasdale, who led the research.

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A groundbreaking study in Burkina Faso suggests yes. 

 

🎙️ Listen to ‘When Science Finds a Way’, wherever you get your podcasts. 

 

#Wellcome #WellcomeTrust #SciencePodcast #CoolRoofs

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As rising temperatures challenge vulnerable regions, could ‘cool roofs’ be the affordable, sustainable solution?

This episode of ‘When Science Finds a Way’ explores this low-cost solution that reflects heat and keeps homes cooler. Host Alisha Wainwright speaks with Dr Aditi Bunker, who led a study in Burkina Faso measuring the impact of this simple yet effective intervention. Could this be a scalable solution for the future?

Download episode show notes and transcript: www.wellcome.org/podcast

01:17 Guest introduction: Dr Aditi Bunker

03:21 Extreme heat in Burkina Faso

06:07 Gninasse Rose on the health impacts of extreme heat in her village

08:02 Transition from mud brick homes to tin roofs

10:32 Cool roof intervention and it’s benefits

15:11 Partnering with local community and organisations

17:13 Field coordinator Dr Guillame Compoare on community-led research approaches

20:08 The importance of locally owned research through community engagement

21:24 Gninasse Rose reflects on the study's personal impact

24:26 Measuring heat-induced stress on the body

27:17 Innovative methods for data collection in the field

20:09 Key findings and insights from the study

32:33 Expanding the study to climate hotspots around the world

35:30 Closing remarks and acknowledgements

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A team of researchers spoke to 30,000 people in the UK to understand their perceptions of research – and the role it may play in their lives. Ben Bleasdale shares insights from those conversations.

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How can we make science feel more relevant to people?

That’s one question the Discovery Decade programme at the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) aimed to answer through extensive audience research.

Designed as an experiment, the team behind it spoke to 30,000 people through nationally-representative polls, focus groups and public dialogues. They asked people about their understanding of research and development – and how they think it can connect with their lives.

The result?

Useful insights that informed the creation of evidence-led tools to better communicate the value of research to more people.

Hear more about the programme from Ben Bleasdale, Director of Public Opinion at CaSE, in this Wellcome Guest Lecture.

Chapter titles:

00:00 Intro

00:25 What is the Discovery Decade project?

04:59 How do people feel about research and development?

07:17 Young people and R&D

09:18 R&D at universities

10:46 Ways to make R&D relevant

13:08 Who do people trust with R&D?

14:39 Advocacy toolkit for politicians

18:43 Bringing R&D to communities

22:28 Q&A: Does Wellcome's values align with the public?

24:19 Q&A: Are some kinds of research favoured by the public more?

25:38 Q&A: How can we make science feel more relevant to everyone?

26:36 Q&A: What’s your vision for a two-way dialogue between the R&D sector and the public?

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